Omaha daily bee., 1887-09-29
MARCHING THROUGH MUD.
The Grand Army Parade at st. Louis
Made in a Drenching Rain.
THE ENTHUSIASM UNAsATeD.
GRAY. Haired Veterans Pass Under
General Grants Picture with I'm.
covered Heads-Synopsis OF
Gen. Fairchild's Rcbort.

covered HeaOs-SyuOpStB OF
Gen. Fairchild's Rebort
Struggling Through Slush.
ST. LOUIS, Sept 2S.-Rain continued to
drop down steadily in the morning but
Grand Marshal Grier issued an order
to prepare for the parade. The order
to fall in for the parade was re.
ceved at the various camps and headquarters
shortly after nine and the men turned out
with rubber coats. umbrellas and trousers
rolled up. Shortly before eleven o'clock
the column was formed and the procession
started, headed by the escort OF
police. Thep followed Grand Marshal Grier
with his chief of staff and aides. Logan post
OF ST. Louis, mounted, and the Springfield
(Mass.) battalion, were the special escorts to
the cOmmaI Il der-in chief. His staff preceded
the twenty carriages containing the war gov.
ernOrs and other honored guests. In the
lead was one occupied by Mayor
Francis and General Sherman.
Then followed divisions of the
Grand Army, ten In number. The depart
ment Of Missouri, commanded by Colonel Mel
son Cole, was given the right of line. AS the
column passed under the stained glass trans
parency Of General Grant on Fourth street
men uncovered their heads and passed by in
silence.
The head of the procession reached the
Grand Army arch that spans Olive street at
GSef Farc Sreft at aPa seTan
President Hannibal Hamlin, the war govern
Ors and other distinguished guests left their
carriages and took their positions In the
grand stand. Grand Marshal Grier and staff
sat in their saddles while the rain increased
In volumes and for an hour and half poured
down on the heads of the passing soldiers:
Along the line of march were thousands OF
boys in blue who thought 1t too wet to
march. In the balcony of the grand stand
Commander-in-Chief Fairchild and General
Sherman, partly protected from the storm,
bowed to the boys as they passed, acknowl-
edgng continually the roaring q, cheers that
company front. Here ard there throughout
the different divisions marched a colored
post and their salute was invariably the sig
stand, Will ich several times were taken up BY
the crowd and prolonged into a hearty
cheer. The dripping flags received much
boisterous notice. Throughout the column
a nos annSeo carried
mutton, side Of bacon, cabbage or some other
representative OF fOraging expedition or
cOmmisSary stores.
brought, up The rear and the crowd made a
hands with "Uncle Billy" The general re.
fused to respond to numerous calls for Q
into carriage and was quickly driven away.
General Fatrchild's Report.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2s.-The encampment
opened in due form in the entertainment hall
OF the exposition building at $3.50 p. m.
Commander-in-C Chief Fairchild presided. The
annual address Of the commap der.in-chief
which was very long, was presented. The
general began BY sending greetings to the
people Of the Pacific coast for their hospital.
ity and cordial reception last year.
He sincerely congratulated the or
der that they were permitted to
gather in this great metropolis and thanked
the citizens of st. Louis for their generous
welcome. He was pleased to announce the
evidence of permanent and healthy growth
OF the Grand Aarmy and for the str ong love
for the order entertained by the loyal people
of this country. That this may continue he
earnestly cautioned every member that he
keep watchful guard over himself when he
acts or speaks as a member of the G. A.
X. and not unconsciously further schemes
foreign to the legitimate purposes of the Or
der. Article Q, forbldding the use of the
organization for partisan purposes, had SO
far as he had known, been strictly Obeyei in
letter and spirit. From Adjutant General
Trays report he learned that the total mum
Der OF members borne on, the rolls OF the
16,4 499. The number reported June 80, 1887.
was STAG an actual gain in five quarters of
10 l57. The increase Of members in the
nine Ninety ,snSnp dsSs sndng 9aSs Ss 3d. 1851 a
last five quarters there has been
mustered into the Grand Army 7a.s5a. Thele 9
we were % reported June 30 en 1857 In &c. good standing
ports. ~, ,s9s; total at last returns borne upon
rolls, S70,674, an increase In membership that
must Do gratifying to all members. The
March, issS. to March. 1857, inclusive, IS
1855 .43. This money was disbursed to
1850 comrades aud their families and I, 800
others we're assisted, giving q, ,6O6 individuals
ils had established the provisional
se"ea Nye lsafS a Boise cy sss Idaho fS
is provisional commander; also established
% s% ." Tth SEIG%as
:iaimed S,4o6 members. He selected for
special notice John A. Logan, who in life
Sut by active public and private efforts. The
patent for :he Grand Army badge has been
duly transferred and is now the property OF
tue order. The counci. OF administration has
lnNcSttu tne Ssu,VU luuuS
ol the order in United States bonds.
Memorial day was more generally
and appropriately observed this year than
rycr before. Referring to tho offer of the
Mount McGregor cottage by Mr.. Drexel,
General Fairchild recommended that 1t be re-
ferred to the incoming. commander, with
authority TO accept on satisfactory arrange
ments. He refers to the collections for the
Charleston sufferers, which were stopped be.
fore fairly started by notice from the mayo!
Of Charleston that no more aid was needed
and expresses the belief that $4,000 could
have been raised In &. A. Il. circles in an
other month. He recommends the appoint
ment AZ once of a competent cOmradt
TO file history OF the the organization ant
suggested that the general government will
Include In the next decennial census ar
enumeration of the soldiers OF the late wa
Of the rebellion who may be living In 1890
lie recommends that the national headQuar
ters be located at some central point and az
assistant adjutant general put in charge. In
matters Of pensions i has been the e.ii aim O. @
the pressing needs OF comrades. The gov
Influence has been brought to bear on stat
1eCislatiOn and state soldiers and orphans